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My synopsis of "The Four Agreements" and the precepts of Miyamoto Musashi

December 6, 2014 at 9:01 AM

My synopsis of "The Four Agreements"

The world is a dream. Your life is a dream. Once you know this you can tailor the dream as you like. The world has it’s own dream, and it is currently ill.

The natural state of humans must be returned to and can be seen in children. They smile are full of wonder and laugh. They are upset only when hungry, tired or fall. Think h.a.l.t. (hungry, angry, lonely, tired...and if feeling any of these things, remedy it). When children play 'grown up', let's say pretend to be their father a lawyer in court, you see a scowl come over their face. That is society. That father who is a lawyer is in essence like a child, but has forgotten under the deluge of society and it's voices.

From early on, society is impregnated into our minds. We are taught right from wrong. We are taught the cycles/ways and values/communication styles, etc. of our parents and their parents. Television, friends, everyone has a view, and over time we internalize all these voices. We wind up with a million voices in our head telling us what to do, how to value ourselves. It drives us mad. Sometimes these voices say conflicting things. Over time, a big book of 'Law' and a 'Victim' develops in our minds. Something we were reprimanded for years ago plays over and over in our head...even if we resolved the situation with the person we harmed. We beat ourselves up constantly. By listening and identifying with the victim, we constantly beat ourselves up and are suffering. We identify with this suffering. We seek out relationships that agree with our victim and acknowledges we are wrong our bad...we listen to these people and are drawn to them, because they 'know what they are talking about' because they say what we say to ourselves (though it is sick and wrong). We become, in a sense addicted to suffering, as we identify with it, it is the only truth we know.

The collection of these voices, especially the big book of law and judgment, and the victim, are the mind parasites. Our brain is like a computer. The mind parasite is a virus that infects our operating system, and we then pass it on. We pass it on when we gossip, when we make judgments of people, are mean to people. A mother returns home from a long day at work. She is exhausted. Her daughter is singing and though she loves her daughter, she is frazzled. Out of patterns she received from her upbringing she shouts out, 'stop that singing, you don't sing well'. The mother forgets ever having said this. Years go by and the daughter hasn't. She has replayed it over and over in her mind and has never tried to sing again, as she has internalized the parasite, she believes she cannot sing. In the circus, young elephants have a heavy chain put on their ankle. They cannot break it. As adults, it is replaced by a thin rope, yet they no longer try to break free, they remember they cannot (though they easily could).

We must learn to become warriors for peace. Warriors against the mind parasites. The sick dream. Not soldiers, as soldiers do what they are told, but warriors, honor guard.

The first agreement: Be impeccable with your word. Words, in the form of thought or spoken are true magic. They affect change in ourselves and the world. This is magic. Do not gossip. Do not speak ill to people...this only passes the parasite. If you say you are going to do something, be impeccable, follow through.

Second agreement: do not make assumptions. This leads to future anxiety (future tripping), and regret in the past (if...then). Assumptions are almost always wrong. They prevent you from living in and experiencing the moment. Instead, lovingly, without secret motives or agendas, ask questions. Keep asking questions until the truth is revealed.

Third agreement: Do not take anything personally. Everyone is infected with the mind parasite. What people do comes out of fear, anger, suffering. By doing your best every day, you do not need to take anything personally. If someone compliments you, do not take it personally. If they turn around 5 minutes later and insult you for the very same thing, do not take it personally.

Fourth agreement: Do your best every day. The level of what is your best will fluctuate. If you did not sleep well, your best the next day will be at a different level than if you did. It does not matter. If you do your best every day, you know this. It will allow you to not take anything personally, as you know in your heart you are and have been doing your best. Even if someone is going to shoot you (in an extreme example), do not take it personally. They are acting out of fear or anger as they are infected by the parasite.

Our skin is open to air and sunlight, touch and feeling good. Over time, the parasites, our ignorance, our sick dream cause injury and we have scabs covering our skin, our hearts, our minds. We are afraid of anyone touching us meaningfully, as they hurt the scabs. We remain disconnected from the world. Follow the four agreements and you will be healed of the wounds, and experience life fully as it is meant to be, allowing real connection, intimacy, joy wonder, being present in the moment.

Following the four agreements is foreign at first and takes effort. Print them out and keep them on your desk. Remind yourself. Practice. Over time, it is like a muscle that you flex. It becomes stronger and easier.

I came across the writings of Myamoto Musashi, the greatest swordsman who ever lived. He won 60 duels. One loss would have meant death. He was a Samurai, and the level of discipline the Samurais engendered is beyond the comprehension of our Western minds. Thus, following his precepts to a letter is daunting to say the least. Yet, we must strive in our lives for perfection of character (in my opinion). Therefore, meditate on his precepts and sayings, and follow the Way as best you can.

1. Accept everything just the way it is.

2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.

3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.

4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.

5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.

6. Do not regret what you have done.

7. Never be jealous.

8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.

9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.

10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.

11. In all things have no preferences.

12. Be indifferent to where you live.

13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.

14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.

15. Do not act following customary beliefs.

16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.

17. Do not fear death.

18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.

19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.

20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.

21. Never stray from the Way.”

― Miyamoto Musashi

“Do nothing that is of no use”

― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world”